Antique Hand-Coloured Engraving – Emperor Caligula Caesar of Rome – 1826

Striking antique hand-coloured engraving of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known as Caligula (AD 12–41), the notorious Emperor of Rome whose brief and controversial reign has echoed through history. Known for his eccentricity, grandiosity, and eventual descent into alleged madness, Caligula remains one of antiquity’s most fascinating and debated figures.
Engraved by J. Pass for the Encyclopaedia Londinensis in 1826, this dramatic portrait shows Caligula in elaborate imperial armour, richly decorated with classical motifs including a Medusa head on the chestplate—symbolising power, fear, and divine protection. His youthful, almost idealised profile contrasts sharply with the dark legacy of his rule.
Size 11.5x16.5 cm